Introduction
A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet, optionally supplemented with videoconferencing. There are at least two levels of Web Quests that should be distinguished from one another. They include long term and short term webquests. (Bernie Dodge, San Diego State University). Today, you will engage in a short term webquest.
Task
You are a new teacher enjoying your first year of teaching at a great school. The principal has asked that you become a member for a panel discussion on curriculum development. Your principal asked that you share research, ideas and resources concerning inquiry teaching and develop a PREZI showcasing your findings. Review 10 of the sites provided in the next section and develop a PREZI presentation highlighting 1) resources that are available from this site, 2) how you envision you could use these resources to promote inquiry behaviors in your lesson(s) and 3) possible challenges that might exist if you implement resources from this site.
Process
Below are MANY different resources that you can tap into that offers ideas, lesson plans, apps, etc. to support your goal of promoting inquiry in the classroom. Remember, you only need to explore 10 of these and highlight each in your PREZI.
Resources
TedED lessons
Debating in the Classroom
Educational Tools for Teachers
Rubric Generator
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
Concept to Classroom
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index.html
PBS Teachers
Thinkfinity
http://www.thinkfinity.org/home.aspx
The New York Times Education Resources
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/
The National Science Digital Library (Math and Science)
http://nsdl.org/resources_for/k12_teachers/index.php
Center for Inquiry Based Learning
http://www.ciblearning.org/index.php
ALICE: An educational software that teaches students computer programming in a 3D environment
Online physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and math simulations (Free)
http://phet.colorado.edu/index.php
Thinkquest
Smithsonian Education
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/index.html
Earth Learning: Innovative, Earth-related Teaching Ideas
http://www.earthlearningidea.com/
Science Net Links
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com
Animated Educational Sites
Population Education
https://www.populationeducation.org/
Math and Science Gizmos
http://www.explorelearning.com/
Freebies for Science Teachers:
Web-based inquiry science environment(WISE)
Facing the Future
http://www.facingthefuture.org/
Annenberg
http://www.learner.org/resources/browse.html?discipline=6
Science Modules
CIESE site – real time data projects
http://www.k12science.org/realtimedatasites.html
Case Studies for Science Education
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/ubcase.htm
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html
CASES: Creating active student engagement in the sciences
http://www.cse.emory.edu/cases/
Teach Engineering
http://www.teachengineering.org/
Problem-based Clearinghouse
https://chico.nss.udel.edu/Pbl/
Mapwindow (free gis program)
National Science Teachers Association
Biology Teacher Resources
Creating Timelines
Digital Storytelling
Inquiry in Motion
http://www.clemson.edu/iim/lessonplans/
Evaluation
Please see the rubric evaluation for the PREZI on moodle.
Conclusion
At this point, you should have a multitude of sites that can offer lesson ideas, plans, gizmos, etc. to support your goal of teaching through inquiry.